May 6th, 2008

Clean Indoor Air refers to the elimination of secondhand smoke in indoor places. In 1993, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classified secondhand smoke as a Group A carcinogen meaning it definitely causes cancer in humans.

Secondhand smoke contains several thousand chemicals, including 200 poisons and more than 50 chemicals that cause cancer. Secondhand smoke is a leading cause of preventable death killing more than 53,000 nonsmokers nationwide and over 3,000 Pennsylvanians each year.

Health effects of secondhand smoke exposure include:

• Cancer 
• Heart disease
• Lung disease
• Respiratory problems

 Secondhand smoke has also been known to cause Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), asthma induction and low birth weight Voluntary health organizations have taken the lead to encourage the legislature to adopt legislation banning smoking in these areas. This first became an issue over a decade ago, but has recently gained momentum.

There currently are two bills in the state legislature addressing this issue. SB 246 and HB 1541 were introduced by Senator Stewart Greenleaf (R-Montgomery) and Representative Michael Gerber (D-Montgomery).  SB 246 currently resides in conference committee, which includes six members of the General Assembly; 3 from the Senate and 3 from the House. The members are Senator Chuck McIlhinney (R- Bucks), Senator Bob Mellow (D- Lackawanna), Senator Stewart Greenleaf (R- Montgomery), Representative Robert Belfanti (D-Northumberland), Representative Ron Miller (R- York) and Representative Michael Gerber (D – Montgomery). 

Smoking Cessation  refers to quitting smoking. There are programs available through the state to aid those who want to quit as a result of Act 77 and the master settlement agreement between big tobacco and the states.

A Bit of Background:  In 1998, under the Master Settlement Agreement, seven tobacco companies agreed to change the way tobacco products are marketed and pay the states an estimated $206 billion, Pennsylvania receiving approximately $11 billion from the years 2000 to 2025. The tobacco companies also agreed to finance a $1.5 billion anti-smoking campaign, open previously secret industry documents, and disband industry trade groups which Attorneys General maintain conspired to conceal damaging research from the public. In 2001 PA, through Act 77, allocated these MSA dollars.  Act 77 allocates the funds as follows:

• Insurance for uninsured adults = 30 percent
• Health-related research = 19 percent
• Home and community-based care for seniors = 13 percent
• Tobacco prevention and cessation = 12 percent
• Hospital charity care = 10 percent
• Prescription drug assistance for seniors (PACENET) = 8 percent
• Endowment for future health care programming = 8 percent
The Pennsylvania Department of Health allocated the twelve percent of MSA funds for tobacco prevention and cessation between statewide contractors, responsible for implementing tobacco control initiatives throughout the Commonwealth, and local contractors, or primary contractors, responsible for the tobacco prevention and cessation programs in their fixed regions.  Statewide contractors receive 30 percent of tobacco prevention and cessation funds, and local contractors receive 70 percent.

Pennsylvania’s Free Quitline

PA Department of Health, Bureau of Health Promotion & Risk Reduction – Tobacco